South American countries | Metal Gear Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia [ show ] Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: República Federativa do Brasil), is the largest country in both South America and the Latin America region. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of 7,491 km. It is bordered on the north by Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and the French overseas region of French Guiana; on the northwest by Colombia; on the west by Bolivia and Peru; on the southwest by Argentina and Paraguay and on the south by Uruguay. It borders all other South American countries except Ecuador and Chile. Unlike most of the South and Central American countries, Brazil's primary language is not Spanish, but Portuguese, due to it being a former Portugal colony during the 1500s due to a treaty. Warning: The following information is from outside Hideo Kojima 's core "Metal Gear Saga." It has some level of canonicity within the continuity, but reader discretion is advised. [?] Brazil was the home country of the cyborg mercenary Samuel Rodrigues .

On July 23, 1993, the Candelária massacre occurred, resulting in eight young people being murdered by a group of men, including police officers. The Nevada-based PMC Maverick Security Consulting, Inc. had planned to conduct a drill for the Brazilian Special Operations Brigade in the city of Rio de Janeiro in 2018 after they were finished with a job regarding restoring an African country from a devastating civil war. However, they later froze the job temporarily due to events that complicated the aforementioned mission. Non-"Metal Gear Saga" information ends here. Chile Chile, officially known as the Republic of Chile, is a country located around the Andes mountains, and is long and narrow. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, the Drake Passage to the far south, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and Argentina to the east. It was also the home country of the poet Pablo Neruda . In 1973, a coup d'état occurred within the country, with the CIA being suspected to have been involved.

When the CIA mercenary group Peace Sentinel occupied Costa Rica around the same time, the Sandinista comandante Amanda Valenciano Libre suspected that they were planning to stage a similar coup. Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia (Spanish: República de Colombia), is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. It is located in northwestern South America. It is bordered to the northwest by Panama; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. Warning: The following information is from outside Hideo Kojima 's core "Metal Gear Saga." It has some level of canonicity within the continuity, but reader discretion is advised. [?] The San Hieronymo Peninsula , under the control of the FARC guerrillas, was located on the central Colombian coast, almost directly below Cuba. It was home to a secret Soviet missile base during the 1960s and early 1970s . Non-"Metal Gear Saga" information ends here.

The Barranquilla Coast is also located in Colombia, which was where Big Boss stationed his army, the Militaires Sans Frontières , in 1974, at the time under the employ of the Colombian government to take out guerilla units. Likewise, almost all of the cocaine drugs that Amanda's FSLN unit had to process also partly came from Colombia. It was at a hospital in Barranquilla that Big Boss, Kazuhira Miller and the medic received treatment for their injuries following the attack on Mother Base in 1975. Miller recovered quickly whereas Big Boss and the medic fell into a coma and were later moved to another hospital in Cyprus under Zero's orders. In 2014, Roy Campbell , using his status as a member of the UN PMC regulatory committee, arranged for the El Dorado International Airport in Colombia to give clearance for the Nomad to land in the region, while giving Solid Snake the cover job of an inspector from the United Nations, so he could infiltrate the South American country where Naomi Hunter was being held. It was also one of the places that gun launderer and weapons dealer Drebin 893 made business with in regards to small and local PMCs.

Guyana Guyana, officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America. Culturally, Guyana is part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana is one of the few Caribbean countries that is not an island. Warning: The following information is from outside Hideo Kojima 's core "Metal Gear Saga." It has some level of canonicity within the continuity, but reader discretion is advised. [?] Guyana was the home country of George , a runaway who befriended the cyborg Raiden in Mexico, in 2018. Non-"Metal Gear Saga" information ends here. Peru Peru, officially known as the Republic of Peru, is a country located within Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean to the west, Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Chile to the south, and Bolivia to the southeast. During the war economy in the early 2010s , Peru was one of the places that gun launderer and weapons dealer Drebin 893 made business with in regards to small and local PMCs.

Guiana Highlands | region, South America | Britannica.com Guiana Highlands Venezuela Guiana Highlands, plateau and low-mountain region of South America located north of the Amazon and south of the Orinoco River . Comprising a heavily forested plateau, they cover the southern half of Venezuela , all of the Guianas except for the low Atlantic coastal plain , the northern part of Brazil , and a portion of southeastern Colombia . They are geologically similar to the Brazilian Highlands , from which they are separated by the eastern part of the Amazon lowland. The terrain comprises a mixture of three ascending elements: a basement of rolling hilly upland, standing mostly less than 1,000 feet (300 metres) above sea level; low mountains, near stream divides, ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 feet (600 to 900 metres) above sea level; and tabular plateaus, capped with resistant sandstone. The highest elevations are formed by the tabular plateaus, such as Mount Roraima (9,094 feet [2,772 metres]), where the boundaries of Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana meet.

The Guiana Highlands extend westward across the Upper Orinoco. Tepuis are a characteristic landform of the Guiana Highlands region. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Rain forests of the Guiana Highlands along the Cuao River in Venezuela Jacques Jangoux The whole region receives an abundance of rainfall, and no season is really dry. The vegetation is mostly tropical rainforest, but parts of southern Venezuela and Guyana are savanna. From the forests come valuable cabinet woods, balata, chicle, vanilla, insecticides, and medicinal plants. The crystalline rocks carry a wealth of minerals, but exploration is made difficult by the heavy plant cover. Gold and diamonds are mined, and the Serranía Imataca of Venezuela is a major source of iron ore. The most notable natural landmark in the highlands is Angel Falls , the world’s highest waterfall (3,212 feet [979 metres], with a base of 500 feet [150 metres]), on an affluent of the Caroní River in Venezuela. Learn More in these related articles: in Brazil: Guiana Highlands Brazil shares the rugged Guiana Highlands with Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.

Forested mesas and mountain ranges, scenic waterfalls, and white-water rivers characterize the area. The highest point in Brazil is Neblina Peak, which reaches 9,888 feet (3,014 metres) along the Venezuelan border in the Serra do Imeri. The Serra da Pacaraima, farther east, rises to 9,094 feet (2,772... in South America: The plateaus To the north and east, the Guiana and Brazilian highlands consist of ancient crystalline rocks greatly worn through prolonged erosion. The Guiana Highlands are mostly below elevations of 1,000 feet (300 metres), with small rises separated by marshy depressions. Occasional dome-shaped granitic inselbergs (steep-sided residual hills)—some 2,000 feet (600 metres) in elevation—surmount... 10 References found in Britannica Articles Assorted References Guiana Highlands - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) The plateau and low mountain region called the Guiana Highlands is located in northern South America. It lies north of the Amazon River and south of the Orinoco.

It covers the southern half of Venezuela, all of Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana except for the low coastal plain, the northern part of Brazil, and a part of southeastern Colombia. It is separated from the Brazilian Highlands by the eastern part of the Amazon lowland. Article History Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article! Contact our editors with your feedback. MEDIA FOR: You have successfully emailed this. Error when sending the email. Try again later. Edit Mode Submit Tips For Editing We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles. You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind. Encyclopædia Britannica articles are written in a neutral objective tone for a general audience. You may find it helpful to search within the site to see how similar or related subjects are covered. Any text you add should be original, not copied from other sources. At the bottom of the article, feel free to list any sources that support your changes, so that we can fully understand their context. (Internet URLs are the best.) Your contribution may be further edited by our staff, and its publication is subject to our final approval.

Unfortunately, our editorial approach may not be able to accommodate all contributions. Submit Thank You for Your Contribution! Our editors will review what you've submitted, and if it meets our criteria, we'll add it to the article. Please note that our editors may make some formatting changes or correct spelling or grammatical errors, and may also contact you if any clarifications are needed. Uh Oh There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later. Close Date Published: July 09, 2015 URL: Access Date: January 03, 2017 Share South America Atlas, South America Maps,South America Country Maps, South America Maps Collection, South America Political Map,South America City Map South America Digital Map South America is a continent located in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean; North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the northwest.

It includes twelve independent countries-Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela-as well as French Guiana, which is an overseas region of France and the Falkland Islands of the UK. In addition to this, the ABC islands of the Netherlands may also be considered part of South America. The South American countries that border the Caribbean Sea-Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana-are also known as Caribbean South America. South America has an area of 17,840,000 square kilometers (6,890,000 sq mi). Its population as of 2005 has been estimated at more than 371,090,000. South America ranks fourth in area (after Asia, Africa, and North America) and fifth in population (after Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America).

The word America was coined in 1507 by cartographers Martin Waldseemuller and Matthias Ringmann, after Amerigo Vespucci, who was the first European to suggest that the lands newly discovered by Europeans were not India, but a New World unknown to Europeans. Political Map of Guyana - Nations Online Project Political Map of Guyana Guyana is a country on the northeastern coast of South America. It is bordered by Venezuela in west, by Brazil in south west and south, by Suriname in east, and by the North Atlantic Ocean in north east. It is the the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname and Uruguay . Disputed areas: the Courantyne River, forms a long part of the border with Suriname, which claims all the territories east of the river. More than half of the country is claimed by Venezuela (hatched area) which claims the western part of Guyana as far as the Essequibo River, the largest river in Guyana. The country is part of the Guianas, a region in north-eastern South America on the Guiana Shield, an old stable geological formation that forms a portion of the northern coast.

The Guianas are bounded by the Orinoco, Negro, and Amazon rivers and the Atlantic Ocean. It includes Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana . With an area of 214,969 km² Guyana is somewhat smaller than the United Kingdom , or slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Idaho . The population of Guyana are largely descendents from Asian laborers (Indo-Guyanese, 43%) and African slaves (Afro-Guyanese, 30%. Their ancestors were brought in to work on sugar plantations. There are 17% Guyanese of mixed heritage, and there is also left a small American Indian population (9%). The country has a population of today 748,000 people (Census 2012), 90% of the residents live in the coastal regions. Spoken languages are English and Guyanese Creole (lingua franca), and Caribbean Hindustani.

Geography of Guyana Guyana's landscape offers a variety of natural regions, a narrow, fertile coastal plain dotted with marshes and cultivated land, a belt of white sand more inland in a hilly sand and clay region with rich mineral deposits. The interior consists mostly of rolling hills covered by tropical rainforest, and a series of plateaus, flat-topped mountains, and savannahs. The Rupununi Savannah, a desert and grassland savannah in south west, located between the Rupununi River and the border with Brazil and Venezuela. The Pacaraima Mountains in the western part of the interior highlands, with the country's highest peak, Mount Roraima (2,810 m; 9,220 ft). Map is showing the South American country with international borders, the national capital Georgetown , province capitals, major towns, villages, and resorts, main roads, secondary roads, the country's only international airport, Cheddi Jagan International Airport ( IATA code: GEO) south of Georgetown. You are free to use this map for educational purposes, please refer to the Nations Online Project.

Cities and Towns in Guyana Map shows the location of following Guyanese cities, towns and villages: Aishalton, Anna Regina (capital of the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region), Apoteri, Arimu Mine, Baramanni, Bartica, Biloku, Charity, Corriverton (easternmost town in Guyana at the Corentyne River, opposite Nieuw Nickerie, Suriname, the towns are linked by ferry), Dadanawa, Epira, Five Star, Fort Wellington, Georgetown (capital and largest city; pop. 240,000), Good Hope, Imbaimadai, Issano, Kaituma, Kamarang, Kumaka, Kurupukari, Kwakwani, Lethem, Linden (second largest town; pop. 60,000), Mabaruma, Mahdia, Mara, Masekenari, Matthews’ Ridge, New Amsterdam (sea port and third largest town; pop.

30,000), Normandia, Orealla, Orinduik, Peters Mine, Potaro Landing, Rockstone, Rose Hall, Rosignol, Spring Garden, Surama, TakamaItuni, and Vreed en Hoop. Suriname | history - geography | Britannica.com Country Data Overview (PDF) Suriname, country located on the northern coast of South America . Suriname is one of the smallest countries in South America, yet its population is one of the most ethnically diverse in the region. Its economy is dependent on its extensive supply of natural resources, most notably bauxite , of which it is one of the top producers in the world. The southern four-fifths of the country is almost entirely covered with pristine tropical rainforest . Formerly known as Dutch Guiana, Suriname was a plantation colony of the Netherlands that gained its independence on Nov. 25, 1975. From 1980 to 1987 the country was governed by a succession of military regimes. A new civilian constitution was approved in 1987. Another military coup took place in 1990, but the country returned to civilian rule the following year.

The capital, Paramaribo , lies 9 miles (15 km) from the Atlantic Ocean on the Suriname River . Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The Maroni River near the village of Cottica, Suri. Carl Frank/Photo Researchers Land Suriname is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, by French Guiana to the east, by Brazil to the south, and by Guyana to the west. Suriname is involved in territorial disputes with both Guyana and French Guiana that are legacies of colonial rule. The dispute with Guyana centres on the New River Triangle, a 6,000-square-mile (15,600-square-km) area between two tributaries of the Courantyne River in southern Guyana. In addition to claiming the New River Triangle, Suriname also contests its border with Guyana along the Courantyne: Suriname claims sovereignty over the entire river and thus views its west bank as the border, while Guyana claims that the thalweg, or deepest channel of the river, is the boundary.

In 2007 a United Nations international tribunal settled another long-standing boundary dispute between the two countries, in which Suriname was awarded one-third of a disputed area of the Caribbean Sea . The area in contention with French Guiana is the 5,000-square-mile (13,000-square-km) region between the Itany and Marouini rivers in the southwestern corner of French Guiana. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. list of presidents of Brazil Suriname has a tropical climate. The populated area in the north has four seasons: a minor rainy season from early December to early February, a minor dry season from early February to late April, a major rainy season from late April to mid-August, and a major dry season from mid-August to early December. Daytime temperatures in Paramaribo range between 70 and 90 °F (21 and 32 °C). In the interior, diurnal temperature extremes can vary by as much as about 20 degrees. However, the range in average temperatures between the warmest month, September, and the coldest, January, is only about 3 degrees.

Rainfall is highest in the central and southeastern parts of the country. Annual rainfall averages about 75 inches (1,900 mm) in the west and 95 inches (2,400 mm) in Paramaribo. Plant and animal life The flora of the coastal area is better known than that of the interior. It consists of some 4,000 species of ferns and seed plants and a large number of mosses, weeds, and mildews. About nine-tenths of Suriname’s area is covered with heterogeneous forest consisting of more than 1,000 species of trees. The baboen (Virola surinamensis), which grows in the coastal area, is used to make plywood. The kapok (Ceiba pentandra) reaches a height of more than 150 feet (45 metres). The Central Suriname Nature Reserve, covering nearly 3,950,000 acres (1,600,000 hectares), was established in June 1998 in west-central Suriname. It is one of the largest protected areas of rainforest in the world and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000.

There are some 150 species of mammals, including monkeys, wild pigs, deer, manatees, jaguars, ocelots, armadillos, sloths, and anteaters. The tapir is the largest land mammal. Reptiles include caimans, iguanas, and the boa constrictor. The beaches on the eastern part of the coast are breeding grounds for marine turtles, which are protected by law. About 650 species of birds, including hummingbirds, vultures, and parrots, have been identified. Some 350 species of fish occupy coastal and inland waters. People Ethnic groups South Asians, descendants of contract labourers from India, are the largest ethnic group in Suriname, making up more than one-fourth of the population. The second major ethnic group, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the population, is the Creoles, who in Suriname are people of mainly African descent. The descendants of Javanese (people from the island of Java in Indonesia) contract labourers and the Maroons (descendants of escaped slaves of African origin) each constitute nearly one-sixth of the population. At least one-eighth of the population is of mixed ethnicity .

Indians, descendants of the original inhabitants of Suriname, make up only a tiny fraction of the population. The coastal groups include the Carib and Arawak , while the Trio (Tiriyo), Wayana-Aparai, Warao (Warrau), Wayarekule (Akuriyo), Tucayana, and Akurio live in the interior. Minor ethnic groups in Suriname include descendants of Chinese, Lebanese, Portuguese, and Dutch immigrants; Creoles from the West Indies; and U.S. citizens. More-recent immigrants include Chinese—known in Suriname as “New Chinese” to distinguish them from the descendants of those Chinese who were brought over as labourers in the 19th century—and Brazilians who arrived in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Languages Dutch is the official language of Suriname, but the extent to which members of the various ethnic groups are able to use the language differs. Most of the population learns Dutch as a second language. Additional languages include Sranan and other creole languages ; English; Sarnami, which originated from Hindi and Urdu; Javanese ; and a number of Maroon and South American Indian languages .

Religion The principal religion is Christianity , brought to Suriname by European colonizers. About two-fifths of the people are Christians, mainly Roman Catholics and Moravians. Hindus, nearly all of whom are South Asians, account for about one-fifth of the population. Slightly more than one-eighth of Surinamese are Muslim, mostly the Javanese and a small South Asian group. Judaism, present in Suriname since the early 16th century, is still practiced, while many of the Chinese are Confucians. African and Indian religions are still widely followed. Settlement patterns Nearly three-fourths of the Surinamese population resides in urban areas. Some one-fifth of them are concentrated in the capital, Paramaribo, and its surrounding area. The capital city is spread out along the Suriname River. Many of its Dutch colonial buildings remain intact, and its historic centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2002.

Smaller urban centres include Nieuw Nickerie , in the northwest near the Guyanese border; Albina, in the northeast on the border with French Guiana; Moengo, in the centre of the bauxite-mining region in northeastern Suriname; and Paranam, in the bauxite-mining and bauxite-processing region on the Suriname River south of Paramaribo. Small settlements of Maroons and Indians make up almost the entire population of the interior. Some Indian villages are located in the coastal area, and nomadic groups live along the Brazilian border in the south. Paramaribo, Suri. Robert Caputo—Aurora/Getty Images Demographic trends The birth rate in Suriname has steadily decreased since independence; indeed, from 1970 to 2007 it dropped by about half, to below the world average. More than one-fourth of the population is under age 15. After 1973, when it was announced that Suriname would become independent, a large number of people emigrated to the Netherlands.

By 1980, according to some estimates, one-third of the population had left the country; many of those who left were professionals and skilled workers. In the early 21st century, migration to the Netherlands had decreased significantly, and many retired workers had returned to Suriname. Meanwhile, starting in the late 20th century, significant numbers of Chinese immigrated to Suriname. In addition, during the early 21st century there was an influx of Brazilians, who came to the country mainly to work in gold-mining activities. Economy Suriname’s economy is dependent on mineral resources, mainly oil , gold , and bauxite, from which alumina (used in the smelting of aluminum metal) is made. Aside from natural resources, the chief sources of income are from agriculture and remittances, mostly from the Netherlands, French Guiana, and the United States. Suriname is a member of the Caribbean Community , an organization of Caribbean countries and dependencies. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing Less than 1 percent of Suriname’s land is arable, and about half of this is cultivated . Most of the farmland is on the New Coastal Plain.

In this region drainage is necessary most of the year, owing to a surplus of precipitation. During dry periods evaporation exceeds precipitation, and thus irrigation is necessary. More than half of the cultivated land in Suriname is planted with rice , the basic food staple. There are two rice harvests every year—the principal one in the spring and a second crop in the autumn. Some rice is exported, as are bananas, citrus fruits, coconuts, and palm oil. Sugar, coffee, and cocoa, formerly important export items, are produced mainly for domestic consumption . Because more than nine-tenths of Suriname is forested, great timber resources exist, but they have not been fully exploited. Plywood and timber are exported. There is a small fishing industry, centred in Paramaribo, that exports shrimp to North America . Resources and power Bauxite is the leading mineral in Suriname, with mines near Paranam and Overdacht. Gold mining has grown in importance. Reserves of chromium, clay, copper, diamonds, iron ore, manganese, nickel, platinum, and tin are also found in Suriname.

The State Oil Company of Suriname (Staatsolie) produces a significant amount of oil from wells in the Tambaredjo area, from which some crude oil is exported, and production activities began at the neighbouring Calcutta field in 2006. A small refinery was established there in the 1990s. Offshore oil exploration of the Guyana-Suriname Basin, which was stalled for decades because of the maritime boundary dispute with Guyana, began again in 2008. The Brokopondo Dam and a hydroelectric power plant on the Suriname River produce electricity for the bauxite-refining operations in Paranam. The dam impounds the 600-square-mile (1,550-square-km) W.J. van Blommestein Lake. Manufacturing The main industry in Suriname is the mining and processing of bauxite. There are an aluminum smelter and an alumina refinery in Paranam. Apart from the bauxite and wood-processing industries, manufacturing is limited to small import-substitution enterprises. Processed foods, clothing, cigarettes, and construction material are produced for the domestic market.

Finance, trade, and services Local banks and insurance companies either are subsidiaries of or cooperate with foreign companies, mostly from the Netherlands and the United States. Monetary policy is controlled by the minister of finance and the president of the Central Bank of Suriname (established 1957), the bank of issue. The national currency is the Suriname dollar, which replaced the guilder in 2004. Bauxite, alumina, and gold account for almost three-fourths of total exports. Imports consist mostly of machinery and transport equipment, fuels, food products, and chemical products. Suriname’s main trade partners are the United States, Canada , the Netherlands, and Trinidad and Tobago . Nearly two-fifths of the population is employed in the service sector, which employs a larger proportion of the labour force than any other sector. Tourism began to develop only in the early 21st century and is centred on the country’s environmental features. Transportation Surface transport systems are for the most part limited to the coastal area. The East-West Highway connects Paramaribo with Albina on the eastern border and with Nieuw Nickerie on the western border.

There is a road from Paramaribo to Afobaka near the Brokopondo Dam. Only one-fourth of the roads are paved. Rivers and canals are an important means of transport. The lower courses of the larger rivers are accessible to oceangoing vessels. Paramaribo is the chief port. An international airport is located about 25 miles (40 km) south of the capital city in the town of Zanderij. Government and society Constitutional framework Under the 1987 constitution, legislative power is exercised by the popularly elected 51-member unicameral National Assembly , which in turn elects a president and vice president. The president, vice president, and members of the National Assembly serve five-year terms. The president is the chairman of a nonelective, military-influenced Council of State, which ensures that the government’s actions conform to the law. It has constitutional powers to annul laws passed by the National Assembly. The judicial system consists of a Court of Justice and cantonal courts. Suriname is a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice, the final court of appeal for Caribbean Community members. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Local government Local government was established in Suriname in 1987. It is divided into distrikten (districts) and ressorten (subdistricts). Each district has a representative and an executive branch of government. The former are run by district raden (district councils), and the latter are administered by districtsbestuur (district administrations). At the subdistrict level there is only a representative branch managed by ressort raad (subdistrict councils). Both the district and subdistrict councils are elected every five years at the country’s general elections. Political process Universal suffrage was introduced in 1948; Surinamese citizens age 18 and older are allowed to vote. Political mobilization and party affiliation have evolved along strongly ethnic lines. South Asians, Creoles, and Javanese all have played major roles in the development of the country’s constitutional democracy . The Progressive Reform Party (Vooruitstrvende Hervormde Partij; VHP) is a leading Hindu party; the Suriname National Party (Nationale Partij Suriname; NPS) was founded by Creoles; and the Pendawa Lima (“Five Sons of King Pandu”) is a predominately Javanese party.

The Surinamese Liberation Army (SLA), a guerrilla group better known as the Jungle Commando and consisting mainly of Maroons, formed in 1986 with the intent to overthrow the standing government. In retaliation, the National Army carried out raids in Maroon villages. The killing and detaining of many Maroons resulted in the flight of many to French Guiana. After a formal peace agreement was reached in 1992, most of them returned to Suriname, where they control economic activity on their lands. Health and welfare Health conditions are relatively good in Suriname. Most tropical diseases are combated effectively. Medical care in the interior is provided by the Foundation for Medical Mission of the Evangelical Brethren in Suriname, which operates medical centres in the larger Maroon and Indian settlements. Most of the population has health insurance. All collective labour agreements include medical care. The unemployed and workers in the informal sector, however, must obtain a special certificate from the government to receive free medical care. Unemployment benefits and other social provisions are almost nonexistent. Education About nine-tenths of Surinamese age 15 and older are literate.

Suriname’s system of education is modeled on that of the Netherlands, and Dutch is the language of instruction. School attendance is compulsory for children up to age 12, and education at all levels is free. More than nine-tenths of the children in the coastal areas attend primary school. Suriname has secondary schools, junior colleges, a teacher’s college, and vocational and technical schools. The Anton de Kom University of Suriname, founded in 1968 as the University of Suriname, has faculties of law, medicine, social science and economics, engineering, and natural resources. Cultural life Cultural milieu Suriname is a culturally diverse society, with harmonious contact between its ethnic groups in the cultural sphere. Fine arts, such as painting and sculpture, were traditionally middle-class concerns dominated by Western cultural standards, but since independence the works of artists from different ethnic groups have received more recognition. Culinary traditions cross ethnic lines, and elements from South Asian, Javanese, Creole, Western African, and Chinese cuisine are often blended. The arts Suriname’s art forms derive from several ethnic traditions. Those of Javanese descent, for example, support a number of gamelan (Indonesian orchestra) troupes.

Suriname’s Indians and Maroons developed a strong crafts industry, producing colourful textiles, baskets, and wood carvings for export. Most Surinamese writing is in the Dutch, Sranan, and Hindi languages. Among the country’s leading writers are Albert Helman, whose published works include dozens of volumes of fiction and plays; Martinus Haridat Luchtman, who, under the pen name Shrinivasi, is the author of several books of poems; Astrid Roemer, a popular novelist; and Cynthia McLeod, who has written several historical novels that have earned a wide readership in both Suriname and the Netherlands. Surinamese music is represented by musical groups such as Fra Fra Bigband, an orchestra from Paramaribo that blends indigenous forms of kaseko (dance music combining Western march , jazz , and calypso ), kawina (a type of Creole pop music ), and winti (ritual music) to form a distinctly Surinamese brand of Afro-Caribbean jazz. In recent years, Suriname-based groups also have collaborated with Western African musicians, adding talking drums and thumb pianos ( lamellaphones ) to their instrumentation.

Sports and recreation The country’s most popular sports are football (soccer), basketball, and volleyball. Although Suriname has no professional sports teams, several Surinamese players have become members of well-known European soccer clubs. Suriname made its Olympic debut at the 1968 Mexico City Games. Suriname’s Anthony Nesty won the gold medal in the 100-metre butterfly competition at the 1988 Seoul Games and later earned a bronze in the same event at the 1992 Barcelona Games. Fishing is a common recreational sport, particularly from August to October, when many people fish with bamboo poles in freshwater swamps and creeks. Hunting is also popular. A traditional Surinamese activity is birdkeeping. The most commonly caught birds are the large-billed seed finches (Oryzoborus crassirostris) known in the country as twa-twas. A competition among these whistling birds takes place Sunday mornings at Independence Square in Paramaribo and in other cities throughout Suriname. Media and publishing All non-government-owned media were shut down in 1982. However, since then several private entities resumed operation.

The major independent daily newspapers are De Ware Tijd (“The True Times”) and De West (“The West”); both are printed in Dutch. Most of the government-owned television and radio stations broadcast in Dutch, and some also air in local languages. There are a large number of smaller commercial radio stations. Page 1 of 2 Guiana Highlands | Article about Guiana Highlands by The Free Dictionary Guiana Highlands | Article about Guiana Highlands by The Free Dictionary Related to Guiana Highlands: Amazon River Guiana Highlands, mountainous tableland, c.1,200 mi (1,930 km) long and from 200 to 600 mi (322–966 km) wide, N South America, bounded by the Orinoco and Amazon river basins, and by the coastal lowlands of the Guianas. It is located in SE Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and N Brazil. The Pacaraima Mts., which culminate in Mt. Roraima (9,219 ft/2,810 m high) on the Venezuela–Guyana–Brazil border, form the highest section of the highlands.

Geologically, the Guiana Highlands is a shield—a stable mass of Precambrian rock—and is related to the Brazilian Highlands. It consists of vast plateaus of ancient crystalline rocks overlaid by geologically recent sandstone and lava caps. The tablelands rise one after another, like gargantuan steps, in sheer escarpments hundreds to thousands of feet high. Numerous rivers, fed by heavy rainfall, rise in the highlands and pour over the edges to create deep gorges and magnificent waterfalls. Angel Fall (3,212 ft/979 m high) in Venezuela is the world's highest waterfall. The sparsely populated region, romantically depicted in W. H. Hudson's Green Mansions, is famous for the exuberance of its semideciduous tropical rain forests and for its rich fauna, including many varieties of brilliantly colored tropical birds. Its inaccessibility is attested by the discovery in the mid-1900s of the headwaters of the Orinoco River in the southwestern section and of a hitherto unknown indigenous tribe of tall people, the Panares. The crystalline rocks of the Guiana Highlands yield gold and diamonds.

Large deposits of iron ore, manganese, and bauxite have been made accessible by new roads and railroads, but the enormous potential wealth of the highlands is still largely untapped because of the dense cover of vegetation. The region has great hydroelectric-power potential that could form the base for industrial development. The highlands remains one of the world's few frontiers although it is yielding to the development process that has transformed Santo Tomé de Guayana, Venezuela, into the region's chief industrial center and the gateway to the interior. Guiana Highlands a plateau in northeastern South America, surrounded by the Orinoco and Amazon lowlands on the north and south and by the Andes and the Atlantic Ocean on the west and east. The Guiana Highlands is part of the territories of Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana, Surinam, and French Guiana. The highest elevation is Mount Neblina (3,014 m). The plateau is the projection of the ancient foundation of the South American platform. The Guiana Highlands are composed primarily of Archeozoic metamorphic rocks, covered in places by Proterozoic quartzite sands and conglomerates of sedimentary mantle-rock.

The Upper Archeozoic rocks contain major deposits of iron ore (primarily in the north) as well as gold and diamonds, while the thick weathered crust contains bauxite and manganese ores (primarily in the east). The relief is dominated by denuded socle plains (elevation, 150-400 m), with separate insular heights that become lower toward the periphery and in the upper reaches of the Orinoco-Rio Negro basin. The most mountainous relief is in the central region along the border between Brazil and Venezuela, and north of it there are sandstone table plateaus with steep slopes (the Serra-Imery, Sierra Parima, Pakaraima, and the Auyán-Tepuí and La-Gran-Sabana massifs). Sandstone mantles are also found in the western areas of the highlands (maximum elevation, 910 m).

Crystalline block massifs and ridges are typical in the west central area (maximum elevation, 2,400 m), along the border of Guiana and Brazil (maximum elevation, 1,000 m), and in central Surinam (maximum elevation, 1,280 m). Along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, the Guiana Highlands are bordered by the Guiana Lowlands. A hot subequatorial climate prevails, with average monthly temperatures ranging from 22° to 28° C. In the east there is a short dry season in the autumn, where precipitation is up to 3,500 mm annually. In the central regions there is a longer winter dry season, with 1,200-1,700 mm of precipitation per year. Western areas of the Guiana Highlands have a constant wet equatorial climate.

The extremely dense network of rivers includes the Orinoco basin (including the Inirida, Ven-tuari, Caura, and Caroni rivers), the Amazon Basin with its sources and tributaries (the Rio Negro, Trombetas, and Paru rivers), and rivers flowing directly into the Atlantic Ocean, such as the Essequibo, Courantyne, Maroni and Oyapock. All these rivers have many rapids and an abundance of waterfalls, including the highest one on earth—Angel Fall in the Caroni basin, which is 1,054 m high. Enormous hydroelectric resources are available. The water flow in winter decreases two to five times, primarily in the rivers of the central region. The western and eastern regions of the Guiana Highlands are covered by humid evergreen forests (with valuable types of timber) on reddish yellow lateritic soils. The central regions contain mainly deciduous and evergreen forests on red soils. Windward regions (relative to the northeast trade winds) have areas of savannas. The animal world belongs to the Brazilian subregion of the Neotropical region.

There are platyrhine monkeys, sloths, anteaters, armadillos, tapirs, peccaries, opossums, and jaguars, as well as many types of birds, reptiles, fish, and insects. The sparse Indian population engages in hunting, fishing, and primitive agriculture. In the northern and eastern regions mining is carried on, and some lumbering is done, primarily in the eastern areas of the highlands. REFERENCE Northern South America: Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, northern Brazil, and eastern Venezuela | Ecoregions | WWF x Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests Northern South America: Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, northern Brazil, and eastern Venezuela The Guianan Moist Forests are one of the largest continuous tracts of relatively pristine lowland tropical rainforest in the world. This ecoregion is characterized by high species richness and local and regional endemism, particularly among the flora, as well as relatively intact ecological processes. Species assemblages are shared with the Orinoco and Amazon Basins, and with the Guianan highlands and Tepuis formations – and is thus a convergence zone for speciation.

These lowland forests were relatively intact until recently; gold mining, wildlife export, logging, and hunting are now encroaching on the area and will increase exponentially if unregulated. Scientific Code Description Location and General Description This region is located on the northeast coast of South America. The Amazon basin lies to the south and the Orinoco borders on the west. The primary rivers from west to east, draining north towards the Atlantic Ocean, are the Essequibo, Corantijn, Marowijne, and Oyapock. The southern boundary is formed by the watershed of the Acarai Mountains and Serra Tumucumaque, which also is the international border between Brazil and the northern Guianan countries of Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana (an overseas department of France). A small portion to the east includes the upper tributaries of the lower Amazon in Brazil. Parts of the lower Orinoco in Venezuela comprise the western limit. The Guianan Moist Forests exclude the narrow strip of coastal mangroves and swamp forest skirting the Atlantic Ocean.

The local and regional climate types in these forests are generally hot and wet, and are strongly influenced by the northeastern trade winds (vientos alisios) and the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The result is that moisture-rich air is constantly blown inland from the Atlantic – regulated by annual oscillations of the ITCZ. There is some variation in precipitation through the region, which can range between 2000 – 4000mm annually. Climate in this region is hot and wet. According to Köppen's climate classification, the major part of this ecoregion has a Tropical Rainforest (Af). Two rainy and two dry seasons can be distinguished: a short rainy season from early December to the end January, a short dry season from early February to the end April, a long rainy season early May to mid August, and finally a long dry season mid August - end November (Teunissen et al. 2001). The ancient Precambrian Guianan Shield is the underlying geology in northeastern South America (Gibbs and Barron 1993).

The Guianan Moist Forests accounts for approximately two-thirds of the northeastern portion of the Shield, but the west-central area includes the elevated sandstone plateau of the Pakaraima Highlands with an average elevation of 1,000 m (Huber 1995). There are also associated table-top mountains (tepuis) such as Mount Roraima that raise above the surrounding area to heights of 2,810 m. These two higher elevation areas are described in the Tepuis ecoregion. The region has primarily a level or low to hilly physiography, with some abrupt topography along the river valleys and in proximity to tepui formations. Vegetation is tropical ombrophilous lowland forest, with moderate regional variability, including marsh forest along rivers. Several vegetation types are recognized within this ecoregion and also include patches of savannas and some patches of herbaceous swamps along the coastal lowlands (Lindeman and Mori 1989). Several outliers of the Tepui formations are embedded in and rise from these predominanty lowland and submontane forests.

The flora of this area is rich, and these multi-tiered forests can reach up to 40 meters in height. Although primarily evergreen, there may be marked leaf reduction in the dry season(August-December). In much of the area the forest floor is rich in shrubs (not many shrubs) and herbaceous plants, and epiphytes and parasites abound due to high atmospheric humidity (UNESCO 1981). The chief plant families represented in these forests are Bignonianceae, Bombacaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Moraceae, Sterculiaceae, Lauraceae, Vochysiaceae, Sapotaceae, Lecythidaceae, leguminous plants, Combretaceae, Anacardiaceae, Rubiaceae, Meliaceae, Sapindaceae, Annonaceae, and Palmaea.

Common tree species include Calophyllum brasiliense, Carapa guianensis, Cedrela fissilis, Ceiba pentandra, Coumourana punctata, Couroupita guianensis, Eschweilera sp., Guarea trichiloides, Luehea sp., Coumourana punctata, Parkia pendula, Pentaclethra macroloba, Protium sp., Schwartzia sp., Trichilia sp., and Warszewiczia coccinea. Within the Guianas, moist forest species composition is changing from east to west. Even within the boundaries of Suriname, species composition between east and west is very obvious: many "eastern" species are completely lacking in western Suriname, while typical "western" species (lacking in eastern moist forest) may dominate "western" forests. Lacking completely in Suriname are: Cedrela fissilis, Coumourana punctata, Coumourana punctata and Warszewiczia coccinea.

Biodiversity Features This ecoregion encompasses a large block of lowland and submontane forest, with a wide variety of regional and local floral and faunal biodiversity, and with high levels of species endemism and richness. Since the first explorers and biologists arrived here this areas has been recognized as an important center and dispersal route for many species (Schomburgk 1940) Little research had been done on much of this region until recently, and historic accounts were not maintained in the host country where much valuable information has been lost (Fontaine pers.comm). Mammalian richness is high, with over 220 species described in Guyana alone – of which over 100 are bats.

Endemism is also relatively high on the species level, and includes the following species: Marmosa lepida, Euphractus sexinctus, Sanguinus midas, Pithecia pithecia, Ateles paniscus, Sciurillus pusillus, Oryzomys delicatus, Neacomys guianae, Sphiggurus insidiosus, Echimys chryurus (Eisenberg 1989), Tonati schulzi, and Molossops neglectus (Mittermeier et al.. 1990). Avian richness and diversity are high, and shares affinites with the Guyana Highlands and northern Andes (cock of the rock Rupicola rupicola) as well as the Amazonian lowlands (hoatzin Opisthocomus hoazin). Many microhabitat specialists also florish in the diverse terrain, and may greatly increase the overall richness of the area. Several larger raptors, including harpy (Harpia harpyja) and crested eagle (Morphnus guianensis) occur locally. Very little is know of the herpetofauna present in these forests.

Threatened reptiles include the black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) and the yellow-headed sideneck turtle (Podocnemis unifilis). Among the amphibians, diversity is notably high among the Hylindae, Dendrobatidae, and Peptodactylidae (Mittermeier et al. 1990). Plant endemism and richness is high, and of the estimated 8000 species of vascular plants – 50% may be endemic (Mittermeier et al. 1990, Boggan et al. 1997). The vegetation is typical of what has come to be know as the Guyana Lowland Floristic Province. The southern portion of this ecoregion is a Center of Plant Diversity (WWF & IUCN 1997) known as the transverse dry belt, and in central French Guiana is another Center known as the Saul Region. Within the transverse dry belt the predominant vegetation is semi-open forest with notable patches of savanna. Dense mesophylic forests are common on higher elevations and along rivers and streams.

In this area palm diversity is notably high and includes such species as Astrocaryum mumbaca, A. munbaca, Bactris sphaerocarpa (not in Suriname), Maximiliana maripa, and Iriartea excrrhiza. The Saul region is more characteristic of the Guayana Lowland Floristic Province, and within its small confines has over 150 endemic vascular plants (IUCN 1996). In a patchwork distribution among these moist forests are an important savanna component, predominantly in Suriname. Savannas can be considered as remnants of the extensive Pleistocene climate savanna, once covering Suriname almost entirely except along rivers and at high altitudes where the rainforest survived in so-called forest refugia. While the savanna climate during the early Holocene changed into the present tropical rainforest climate, Suriname became covered again by rain forest and savanna ecosystems survived in 10 different landscapes at locations where soil/hydrology and/or man-made fires favored their maintenance. Nowadays savanna's are covering only 1 % of the Surinamese land surface.

Based on the landscape classification of Cohen and Van der Eyk (1953) all savanna types were studied in the 60s and early 70s. The total list of savanna plants amount over 800 species, which is 20 % of the Surinamese flora. Most of these species are confined to savannas. As savannas cover only 1 % of the land surface of Suriname, savannas may be considered as hot spots for plant diversity. Current Status At present, the siege of human invasion has only just begun in this ecoregion – and conservation efforts as well have taken rootThis ecoregion occurs in five countries, which speak five different languages. Governments agendas are equally diverse, and management and conservation occurs nationally with few transnational efforts currently in place. French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname are unique among South American countries in that deforestation pressures have so far had little effect (IUCN 1996). On the other hand there are also very few protected areas, (with the exception of Suriname) and threats have increased dramatically even as we enter the next millenia.

There are a number of established and proposed nature reserves in Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana which offer varying degrees of protection – however few are officially recognized (Lindeman and Mori 1989). UNEP recognized the following protected areas within and shared by this ecoregion: in Guyana, Kaieteur National Park (5¸00'N - 59¸00'W, IUCN category II), and in Suriname, Brownsberg Nature Park (4¸54'N - 55¸12'W, IUCN category II) 12 nature reserves, and one multiple use management area (UNEP/WCMC protected areas database. There are is a significant push to increase tourism in these countries, which may help in the valuation of biodiversity and curve some of the current trends. Governments are also becoming more aware of the true "richness" their countries possess and are taking measures to save it. Types and Severity of Threats Gold mining and the rampant expansion of logging are the most serious cause for concern, much of which is done illegally and along the borders of the Guyanas and Brazil and Venezuela where there is little enforcement or protection.

Recent increases in gold mining have severely impacted streams and surrounding landscapes with polluted runoff and mercury contamination (Fontaine per. comm.). Guyana is the second largest exported of wild birds in South America, with approximately 15,000 exported in 1989 (IUCN 1996). Other wildlife is also exported commercially and together may constitute a threat to the persistence of many species. However, stringent quotas currently exist and with proper research and enforcement may limit the effects of this threat. Justification of Ecoregion Delineation The delineation for this ecoregion follow five separate national and international vegetation maps. The base map was UNESCO (1980), and all subsequent maps were used to refine these lines on a national level. In Venezuela we used Huber and Alarcon (1988), following their classification of "semi deciduous tropophilous medium forests", "semi deciduous tropophilous tall forests", "evergreen submontane ombrophilous forests", and "evergreen tall ombrophilous forests (south of the Delta)". In Guyana, linework follows Huber et al.

(1995), and encompasses all their Flooded Coastal and Lowland Forests and Shrublands forest types, and excludes all Savannas and Meadows. In Suriname we followed OAS & National Planning Office of Suriname (1988) and excluded all swamp forests and mangroves in the northern sector, and a small portion of savanna along the southern border with Brazil. All of French Guiana was included with the exception of mangroves according to UNESCO (1980) and Granville (1979). In Brazil, we followed IBGE’s (1993) classification of "dense submontane ombrophilous forests" along the borders of the Guyanas and the southern delineation follows elevational contours. References Berry, P.E., O. Huber, and B.K. Holst. 1995. Floristic analysis and phytogeography. In: Berry, P.E., B. K. Host, and K. Yatskievych, editors. Flora of the Venezuelan Guayana. Vol. 1: Introduction. Portland, Oregon: Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis and Timber Press. Boggan, J., V.

Funk, C. Kelloff, M. Hoff, G. Cremers, and C. Feuillet. 1997. Checklist of the plants of the Guianas (Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana). 2nd Edition. Biological Diversity of the Guianas Program. Washington, DC. Fontaine, M. Personal Communication. Director, WWF-Suriname. 8/2001. Fundação Instituto Brasilero de Geografia Estatástica-IBGE. 1993. Mapa de vegetação do Brasil. Map 1:5,000,000. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Gibbs, A. K., and C. N. Barron. 1993. The geology of the Guiana Shield. Oxford University Press, New York. Granville, J. 1979. La Guayane - Planche 12 - Vegetation. Map 1:1,000,000.

Atlas des Centre d'Etudes de Geographie Tropicale, Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique d'Outre-Mer, Cayenne, French Guiana. Huber, O. 1995. Geography. In: Berry, P. E., B. K. Host, and K. Yatskievych, editors, Flora of the Venezuelan Guayana. Vol. 1: Introduction. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis and Timber Press, Portland, Oregon. Huber, O., and C. Alarcon. 1988. Mapa de vegetación de Venezuela. 1:2,000,000. Ministerio del Ambiente y de los Recursos Naturales Renovables, Caracas, Venezuela. Huber, O., G. Gharbarran, and V. Funk. 1995. Vegetation map of Guyana (preliminary version). 1:1,000,000. Centre for the Study of Biological Diversity, University of Guyana, Georgetown, Guyana. IUCN. 1996. The Conservation Atlas of Tropical Forests: the Americas.

Harcourt, C.S. and J.A. Sayer, editors. Simon and Schuster, New York. Lindeman, J. C., and S. A. Mori. 1989. The Guianas. In: Campbell, D.G., and H. D. Hammond (eds.). Floristic inventory of tropical countries. New York Botanical Garden, New York, USA. Mittermeier, R.A., S.A. Malone, M.J. Plotkin, F. Baal, K. Mohadin, J. MacKnight, M. Werkhoven, and T.B. Werner. 1990. Conservation Action Plan for Suriname. World Wildlife Fund –US. 45 pp. OAS & National Planning Office of Suriname. 1988. Suriname Planatlas. Organization of American States, Executive Secretariat for Economic and Social Affairs Department of Regional Development. Washington, D.C., USA. Schomburgk, R. H. 1840. A description of British Guiana, geographical and statistical: exhibiting its resources and capabilities, together with the present and future condition and propects of the colony.

Simpkin, Marshall, and Co., London, 155 pp. Ter Steege, H. 2000. Plant diversity in Guyana: with recommendations for a National Protected Area Strategy. Tropenbos Series 18. Ter Steege, H, R. Boot, L. Brouwer, J.C. Caesar, R.C. Ek, D.S. Hammond, P.P. Haripersaud, P. van der Hout, V.G. Jetten, A.J. van Kekem, M.A. Kellman, Z. Khan, A.M. Polak, T.L. Pons, J. Pulles, D. Raaimaker, S.A. Rose, J.J. van der Sanden, and R.J. Zagt. 1996. Ecology and logging in a tropical rain forest in Guyana: with recommendations for forest management. Tropenbos Series 14, Wageningen, Netherlands. Teunissen, P.A., D. Noordam, K. Boven, J. Nieuwendam & S. Janki 2001.

Management Plan Boven Coesewijne Nature Reserve, Suriname. Report on behalf of the Nature Conservation Division of the Surinam Forest Service. WWF-GFECP-project FG-12, TA5. 125 pp + 30 Annexes (75 pp). UNEP/WCMC. Prototype Nationally Designated Protected Areas Database. UNESCO. 1981. Vegetation Map of South America: explanitory notes. United Nations \Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Darantiere, France. WWF and IUCN. 1997. Centres of plant diversity. A guide and strategy for their conservation. Volume 3: The Americas. IUCN Publications Unit, Cambridge, UK. Prepared by: Jan Schipper, Pieter Teunissen, and Burton Lim Reviewed by: In process Political Map of French Guiana - Nations Online Project Political Map of French Guiana ___ Political Map of French Guiana (French: La Guyane Francaise or Guyane) About French Guiana French Guiana is a French overseas region on the northeastern coast of South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, countries with international borders to French Guiana are Brazil and Suriname .

With an area of 83,534 km² the country is about the size of Austria , or slightly larger than the U.S. state of South Carolina . French Guiana's landscape offers a narrow coastal plain dotted with swamps and marshes, where the majority of the people live, to a dense, near-inaccessible rainforest in the interior. The interior consists mostly of rolling hills, the land gradually rises to the modest peaks of the remote Tumuk Humak mountains in south along the Brazilian border area. The mountain range is part of the Tumucumaque Uplands of the Guiana Shield, they form the divide between the biogeographical system of the Amazon Basin and that of the Atlantic coastal area of the Guianas. French Guiana's highest elevation is at Bellevue de l'Inini in Maripasoula province with 851 m (2,792 ft.). The French overseas region has only 0.13% of arable land , and 0.04% permanent crops, it consists to 90% of forest.

French Guiana has a tropical rainforest climate, its hot and humid with little seasonal temperature variation but is moderated by trade winds at the coast. Dry season from August to December; rainy season is December and January, alternating sunshine and tropical showers in January and February, April to July rainy season again. Guyane has a population of just 224,000 people. The official language is French, but a number of other local languages are spoken including French Guiana creole, six Amerindian languages, and four Maroon dialects. Capital city is Cayenne . The ESA Space Center is located near the city of Kourou . Major rivers in French Guiana are the Marowijne (Moroni) River, which marks the (disputed) border between French Guiana and Suriname, the Litani River, a tributary of the Maroni River, forms part of the semi-official southern boundary between French Guiana and Suriname. The Oyapock River forms most of the border between French Guiana and Brazil (Amapá state).

Map is showing the South American country with international borders, the territorial capital Cayenne, province capitals, major towns, and villages, main roads, the location of the region's main international airport, Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport ( IATA code: CAY) located in the commune of Matoury, 13 km (8 mi) southwest of Cayenne. You are free to use this map for educational purposes, please refer to the Nations Online Project. All Countries of the World Political Map of French Guiana Cities and Towns in French Guiana Map shows the location of following cities, towns and villages in French Guiana: Apatou, Cacao, Camopi, Cayenne (capital and largest city, pop.

116,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area), Grand-Santi, Guisanbourg, Guyane Space Centre , Inip, Iracoubo, Jean, Kaw, Kourou (within Kourou district lies Guiana Space Centre, the European Space Agency's main spaceport), La Hatte, Macouria, Mana, Maripasoula, Matoury (southern suburb of Cayenne, Cayenne-Rochambeau Airport is located in the commune), Montsinéry, Organabo, Ouanary, Papaïchton, Régina, Rémiré, Roura, Saint-, Saint-Élie, Saint-Georges, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni (second most populous city and one of the two sub-prefectures of French Guiana), Santonia, Saül, Sinnamary, Sparouine, and Tonate. Suriname Tourism Suriname Tourism... Beating heart of the Amazon jungle Voltzberg Natural Reserve ï¿½ Edward Troon/Suriname Tourism Foundation Suriname tourism is unique by any standard.

Dominated by primary forest, more than 80% of the country's 163,000sq km is covered by the Amazon rainforest . protected through a dozen or so national parks and natural reserves. Suriname has a long standing tradition of nature conservation, and the creation of the Central Suriname Nature Reserve is a good example of their preservation efforts. It covers 1.6 million ha of primary forest of the most pristine state, with high biodiversity of plant an animal life. That's the core of your Suriname tourism experience. Located in NE South America, Suriname is bordered to the East by the Marowijne river (border with French Guiana ) and Corantijn river to the West (border with Guyana ). To the North, the Atlantic, and Brazil to the South. First inhabitants were the Surinen. When the first Europeans arrived to the region, they were already driven out by other Amerindian tribes such as Carib and Arawaks. Spanish arrived in the late 15th century and the country exchanged hands several times after that, between the Dutch, English and French colonialists. Suriname Map You will need Adobe Reader. You can get Adobe Reader here .

The English settled in Suriname in the first half of 17th century. In 1776 they hand it over to the Dutch, in exchange for the Dutch possession of New Amsterdam, later named New York, or the Big Apple as we know it today. For many years Suriname was known as Dutch Guiana. In 1975 became a republic, gaining fully independence from the Netherlands. Dutch is the official language. Sranang Tongo is widely spoken, also Hindi and Javanese, together with English, Chinese, French and Spanish. You're definitely not short of options when trying to speak your way through Suriname tourism! Suriname culture is as vast and varied as its ethnic composition, very well reflected through its superb cuisine. Suriname Facts Suriname Attractions: Brownsberg. Suriname ï¿½ B. Coenders/Istockphoto Your Suriname tourism experience would most likely start in Paramaribo , a 17th century city with a lovely architecture that reflects Dutch, English, French and Spanish colonial style. Places to visit include Fort Zeelandia and major religious buildings such as the 17th century synagogue, 19th century Catholic cathedral and the biggest mosque in the Caribbean.

But the biggest of Suriname attractions is the tropical forest. A number of national parks and protected areas are found throughout, including Brownsberg Nature Park, Voltzberg Nature Park, Galibi Nature Reserve (at the mouth of Marowijne river) and Coppename Nature Reserve (at the mouth of Coppename river), among others. Many river tours are available, including guided visits to indigenous communities. Surinamese Bush Negroes (Maroons) account for about 8% of the population. They have managed to preserve their culture and lifestyle, living in jungle villages since 18th century. Among others, the Saramaka, Matawi, Paramake, Aukan, Boni, etc. Central Suriname Nature Reserve (2000) Historic Inner City of Paramaribo Suriname tourism is gaining importance. The country's cultural heritage as well as its abundance of nature and wildlife is attracting more and more international recognition, but today still remains provably the best kept secret in South America... Mosque and Synagogue ï¿½ Edward Troon/Suriname Tourism Foundation How to Get There: The airport - Johan Adolf Pengel Intl. Airport - is located at Zanderij, about one hour from Paramaribo . New!

KLM and Surinam Airlines fly from Europe via Amsterdam, there are not direct flights from UK. In USA, Surinam Airlines provide connecting flights from New York, Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Where to Stay:

Question: Which South American country is bordered on the north by Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana?
Answer: Brazil